Apple has unveiled the latest iPad with its highest-ever resolution screen, alongside an iOS app of the iPhoto image processing and management tool. The third-generation iPad will feature a 2048 x 1536 pixel 'Retina' display along with a quad-core graphics processor to power it. It also gains a 5MP back-lit CMOS camera with a five-element f/2.4 lens (a similar spec to the unit in front of the iPhone 4S's 8MP camera). There's also a $5 iPhoto app that allows a series of simple image corrections and sorting options to easily find your best images and get the best out of them.

Sadly there's still no built-in SD card slot to make uploading photos easier - instead you have to buy the Apple plug-in accessory one.

The smallest, 16Gb, WiFi-enabled version will cost $499/£399(inc VAT), with 32Gb versions for $599/£479(inc VAT) and 64Gb versions costing $699/£559(inc VAT). 4G capability will add $130/£100(inc VAT) to the cost.

iPhoto for iOS

iPhoto for iOS is a $4.99 app that increases the photo management and processing capabilities of iOS devices. In addition to the predictable processing filters it also allows local correction and enhancement of photos, by pressing and sliding to adjust properties such as contrast, exposure and saturation. There are no selection tools so, if the software doesn't affect the area you wanted it to, you have the option to use painting tools to adjust contrast, saturation, sharpening or brightness.

All the tools are kept intentionally simple, such as the option to automatically straighten horizons and generate 'photo journals' from a group of selected images, so we don't see it challenging apps such as Snapseed or Photoshop Touch just yet. Click here for more details.

SAN FRANCISCO―March 7, 2012―Apple today introduced the new iPad, the third generation of its category defining mobile device, featuring a stunning new Retina display, Apple’s new A5X chip with quad-core graphics and a 5 megapixel iSight camera with advanced optics for capturing amazing photos and 1080p HD video. iPad with Wi-Fi + 4G connects to fast networks worldwide, including AT&T’s and Verizon’s 4G LTE networks, and still delivers the same all-day 10 hour battery life* while remaining amazingly thin and light. Beginning today, iPad 2 will be offered at an even more affordable price starting at just £329 inc VAT.

“The new iPad redefines the category Apple created less than two years ago, delivering the most amazing experience people have ever had with technology,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “The new iPad now has the highest resolution display ever seen on a mobile device with 3.1 million pixels, delivering razor sharp text and unbelievable detail in photos and videos.”

The new iPad’s Retina display delivers four times the number of pixels of iPad 2, so dense that the human eye is unable to distinguish individual pixels when held at a normal distance, making web pages, text, images and video look incredibly sharp and realistic. The 3.1 million pixels in the Retina display are more than one million more pixels than an HD TV, and with 44 percent increased colour saturation the new iPad displays colours that are unbelievably richer, deeper and more vivid. Movies are now capable of playing at full 1080p HD-resolution, delivering an incomparable viewing experience on a mobile device.

The powerful new A5X chip with quad-core graphics was specifically designed by Apple to deliver a fast, responsive user experience while supporting the incredible Retina display. With double the graphics performance of the A5 chip, the A5X provides a superb balance between performance and power efficiency so users can enjoy all the benefits of the stunning new display while experiencing a smooth Multi-Touch interface, immersive gameplay, incredible visual depth and all-day battery life that iPad is known for delivering.

The 5 megapixel iSight camera features advanced optics for taking stunning pictures and recording full HD video. Backside illumination allows you to take great photos in low-light conditions and a new video image stabilisation feature removes the bumps and shakes typically seen when filming with a hand-held device. Images can be enjoyed on the large Retina display, then edited, enhanced and easily shared with friends and family using the built-in Photos app on iPad.

iPad Wi-Fi + 4G with built-in next generation 4G LTE has the most comprehensive support for fast networks worldwide including HSPA+ and DC-HSDPA, and now both CDMA and GSM iPad users have the ability to easily roam internationally. The world-ready iPad delivers blazing download and upload speeds so web pages load incredibly quickly and email with large attachments can be sent and received easily. Personal Hotspot can be used to share the fast network connection on your iPad with up to 5 other devices using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or USB**.

With iOS 5.1, the latest update to the world’s most advanced mobile operating system, the new iPad has a number of new features and enhancements including: a redesigned Camera app with video stabilisation technology; the ability to delete photos from Photo Stream; support for dictation in English, French, German and Japanese; and Personal Hotspot. iOS 5.1 also works seamlessly with iCloud, a breakthrough set of free cloud services including iTunes in the Cloud, Photo Stream and Documents in the Cloud, that works seamlessly with your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac or PC to automatically and wirelessly store your content and push it to your devices. When content changes on one of your devices, your other devices are updated automatically.

The new iPad also supports dictation, another amazing way to get things done just using your voice. Instead of typing, tap the microphone icon on the keyboard, then say what you want to say and the new iPad listens. Tap done, and iPad converts your words into text. You can use dictation to write messages, take notes, search the web and more. Dictation also works with third-party apps, so you can update your Facebook status, tweet, or write Instagram captions.

Apple also introduced the iPhoto app, along with major updates to iMovie and GarageBand, completing its suite of iLife apps for iOS. iLife and the iWork apps, Pages, Keynote and Numbers, have all been updated to take advantage of the new iPad Retina display. iPhoto includes breakthrough Multi-Touch features so you can use simple gestures to sort through hundreds of photos and find your best shots, enhance and retouch your images using fingertip brushes and share stunning photo journals with iCloud. iMovie now gives you the ability to create amazing Hollywood-style trailers as you record HD video, and GarageBand introduces Jam Session, an innovative and fun new feature that allows a group of friends to wirelessly connect to play instruments and record music together live on their iOS devices.

iPad runs almost all of the over 585,000 apps available on the App Store, including more than 200,000 native iPad apps, from a wide range of categories, including books, games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel. The iTunes Store puts the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store at your fingertips with a catalog of over 20 million songs, over 90,000 TV episodes and over 15,000 movies. The new iBooks 2 app for iPad lets users experience an entirely new kind of ebook that’s dynamic, engaging and truly interactive. iBooks created with Apple’s new iBooks Author offer gorgeous, fullscreen ebooks with interactive animations, diagrams, photos, videos, unrivaled navigation and much more.

Pricing & Availability

The new iPad Wi-Fi models will be available in black or white on Friday, March 16 for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model and $699 (US) for the 64GB model. iPad Wi-Fi + 4G for either AT&T or Verizon will be available for a suggested retail price of $629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the 32GB model and $829 (US) for the 64GB model. iPad will be sold in the US through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores, and select Apple Authorized Resellers. iPad will also be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Switzerland, UK and the US Virgin Islands on Friday, March 16. Customers can begin pre-ordering their new iPad today, and the incredible iPad 2 is now offered at a more affordable price of $399 (US) for the 16GB Wi-Fi model and just $529 (US) for the 16GB Wi-Fi + 3G model.

iOS 5.1 and iTunes 10.6 are available today as free software updates. iPhoto, iMovie 1.3 and GarageBand 1.2 are available today for $4.99 (US) each from the App Store (www.itunes.com/appstore). Keynote 1.6, Pages 1.6 and Numbers 1.6 are available today for $9.99 (US) each from the App Store. Updates are available for free to existing customers. By the end of March iPad will be available in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

*Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary.**Personal Hotspot requires supporting data plan. Customers should check with their carrier for availability.

Comments

Refer to my post 2 days ago. I redid the same comparison test at the UC Berkeley store today. All results were the same and did 2 more comparisons: 1. The camera built into the new iPad shows more resolution than the old iPad (but who cares). 2. Comparing a high resolution image on You Tube showed no difference between the two iPads (as verified by 2 salespeople and one student). Finally three new review announcements appeared on the web today, they all say there is no difference in image resolution on the new ipad, only it has a better camera in. Do the comparison yourself before you buy.

Some further observations for those purchasing the D800 and want to use the new Ipad.

I downloaded sample D800 photos to the new Ipad. When I double tap on the photo it is enlarged 9 times (3 times linearly) That translates into over 28 million pixels. You can enlarge a little more my using your fingers but the image will not stay enlarged after you remove your hand.

My guess is that 28mp might be the limit here. (still very impressive). Certainly it is vastly superior to the original Ipad limit of just over 3 mp. Apple is always a little lacking on actual specs but I am very happy that it goes to at least 28mp.

I have compared with my computer monitor using the "Library" D800 photo but cannot at this point draw any real conclusions. That may be due to the fact that 28mp is not that far away from 36mp.

I note that even my 16mp D7000 photos enlarge 9 times when double tapped. ( they look incredibly sharp!)

I bought the first Ipad nearly two years ago hoping that it would enhance my ability to view, edit, delete photos while in the field. Although the original Ipad was a great tool, the limitations of screen resolution and downsizing of all photos to only 3megs limited the usefulness relative to my 30" monitor at home.

I now have the newest Ipad for two days and am happy to report that I now have the perfect field tool for analyzing my photos while in the field. My photos are now displayed at 16mp (D7000) The retina screen is amazing! I now see details that I missed on my 30" monitor! The colors are better and brighter as well. The only downside is that photos brought from my computer are no longer downsized for the new Ipad and this means lots more storage is required. Get the 64gb option for the new Ipad!

I also used the edit program "Snapseed" on the new Ipad and am delighted that the edited photos not downsized but are still at 16mp.

I have read all the love/hate iPad comments. I do not care, I am a PC user with tons of images on my hard drive. I love the simple, user friendly way as I could edit my photos on this tool, the other features would be plus.I just bought a GoPro Hero2 and as I saw I could edit my movies on the same simple way.Before I go, and buy one, few open questions left:1. ok, there is a solution to feed the iPad with my photos and edit, but could I save them back to the same place? I guess not :( If I have to use the iCloud/box.net/etc will they cut to a limited size?2. may I edit my bigger files too? For example my old scanned slides as well?3. I am afraid a bit if I am in the nowhere, far from any WIFI network will it communicate with the WIFI bacpac of Hero2? 4. Is there a solution to read in the CF card of my Oly 420?

3/17/2012 IPAD1/ new IPAD for photos. I just took my iPad 1 down to the apple mother ship store in SF. I compared 2 of my photos viewed on my iPad 1 and the new iPad. My photos were taken with a canon s95, and worked on in photoshop (layers/mask) on PC, and were sent wireless to my iPad. The 2 photos were 2.1mp jpg and 3.8mp jpg. I emailed both to myself and then compared the two as viewed on my ipad1 and the new iPad in the store. The results (as verified by the store sales person): the 3.8mp photo had a significantly higher resolution on the ipad1 compared to the new iPad, and the 2.1mp had somewhat higher resolution. We then went on to compare the logo on google search on both iPads and found it to be of equal resolution. But, the resolution on the icons on the home page of the new iPad was signicantly better then the icons on my ipad1. I strongly suggest that if you are considering upgrading to the new iPad, run a test, and post the results. Any thoughts on what I experienced?

What i did is I went to iphoto and iphoto imported pictures from "PHOTOS" .I made one picture brighter since was to dark . That picture was not changed in "PHOTOS" . I went back to iPHOTO and the picture was brighter - like I want it. Then I delete that picture from (iPHOTO) , but the picture was not deleted in my "PHOTOS". So it looks like iPhoto imports pictures (COPY) and they stay in iphoto folder. I asked the guy in Apple store if iPhoto create a new folder. He told me YES .My "beef" with that is that if you got only 9GB of pictures, and they are copy to iPhoto folder - now you got 18GB of data on your ipad, and your 16GB ipad is to small for only 9GB of pictures . If you fix the picture in iphoto it stay in iphoto. We could not find a way ( with apple guy ) to fix the original (with iPhoto ) and than delete pictures from iphoto. Question is - Is my 64GB ipad good only for 32GB of storage ( since iphoto copy your picture files ) ? Can anyone anwser this ?

Since many people in this forum use the ipad in some way related to their photography, and since the new retina display will make this device even more popular,it would be nice for Dpreview to review the ipad3, in respect to its photo apps and synchronization to external devices such as camera's and sd cards etc

The new iPad boats a 2048 x 1536 pixel 9" display. Does the greater resolution really make any difference? Is there a way to test or compare screens? If we have to blow up a screen shot to perceive a difference, isn't that like saying there is really none? Might contrast ratio or another factor matter more? Is a comparison to print density relevant?

It'll make a huge difference. Its not just about the mechanics of the pixel density but also what the software has to do to make use of that density. Go over to the D800 sample images and compare the full size jpegs on your iPad vs your computer. Assuming you have a monitor thats suitable for photography, you'll notice that the D800 sample images are soft on the iPad compared to your monitor. Those extra pixels will go along way in allowing the iPad do display larger rez photos with much more detail.

Just as a matter of factual correctness: it is not called the iPad3 and it's screen is not a retina display according to Apple's own definition (it is a move in the right direction, close to 270 dpi ... but I want 1200 at the minimum for proper typography).

@kkingsley. That could be correct. But if so, then what does Retina mean? According to Apple's original definition it meant a display with a density of 300 dpi or more. So what is the definition? 300 dpi ± 10%? Or whatever comes to mind and is convenient for the current marketing campaign?

"Retina display" is not defined (and cannot be defined) as a specific dpi. This is because you look at different size screens from different distances. "Retina display" means sufficient dpi that your eye can't see individual pixels - when you look at the screen at the typical distance you'd work with the screen.

The iPhone screen is smaller and you look at it from closer up, so the dpi for the iPhone is 300dpi. The iPad screen is larger and you look at it from a bit further away, so the dpi can be a bit lower, and you still won't see individual pixels.

I hope this makes sense. Ultimately it's about the angular resolution your eye can distinguish - which is affected by distance - not about a linear dpi.

As a user of an iPad 2 for presentations both on the screen and over HDMI, I am very excited to be able to bring this to a new level, with the photo-paper like screen resolution and saturation and presumably 1080p slideshows. I've already tried out iPhoto and it is excellent, easily enough for quick edits on the road and possibly more, with it's definable brushes.

What I would like is an SD slot for photo backup on the road, I just hope Apple gets over the addiction to making money from flash storage upgrades and makes a version with this feature, as well as some more serious raw editing software coming. Having a version of ACR or simplified Lightroom on this would mean I don't need a laptop as well, which would be a huge step forward, which I really look forward to, whether it comes from Apple or another company.

Last I checked, iPad was not compatible with external hard drives. There were third parties that set up their drives to mimic the data "flow" of a camera, that is, made the hard drive's files look like a series of pictures that the iPad would recognize, but I am unaware of official support for any external drives on the iPad.

In a Jobsian iWorld, big hard drives need not exist. Every photo would upload to iCloud. You need pay Apple only $XX per month to rent your iSpace. Once you have several gigabytes in iSpace, and no way to transfer the mass that is fast or cheap, you are hooked: Apple shareholders (or SPV bondholders) will draw an indefinite annuit;y from all the virtual memory users.

I have someone who wants to buy the new one for my birthday next month...my query is this , with the adapter for usb will it be able to read directly from an external hard drive? I presume I will be able to sinc it to my A77. In which case it should then be as flexible as a samsung 10.1. I have not as yet used the apple platform and have stuck to windows platform..feedback please

The USB adapter is intended for connecting directly to a camera such as your A77. It simply turns the camera into the memory card reader which is useful if your camera doesn't use SD cards.

Most external drives (including every thumb drive I've tried) won't work. Those that do work must be powered on it's own. The iPad USB adapter does not provide enough power to run most external devices. Furthermore, the attached device must be formatted in such a way as to resemble a flash card, usually FAT, FAT32 or exFAT formats. I don't know if it'll read any other formats. I'm not sure, but there may be further requirement to have the contents of the drive placed into a commonly recognized folder structure used by most camera manufacturers. Something with a DCIM folder in the path is pretty common. I'll admit that I haven't tried an external hard drive myself, but I have tried several thumb drives with no luck (the iPad doesn't supply enough power to even turn them on).

Check the Hyperdrive iFlashdrive for 2 way transfers. Expensive up front, but if you compare to ongoing subscription services it can make up for cost in the long run...as long as you don't lose it. :) I've used the Colorspace for iPad (only 1 way transfer) for my photography for almost a year and been very satisfied. https://www.hypershop.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=210

‘’Weight, efficiency ( in running what exactly ?) and battery life’’ are not the reasons that attract people into apple stores. Let’s be honest it is a desired product with a visual appeal. It is predominantly an apple creation with a crippled and closed operating system that is best for types of things teenagers do when they are not thinking about sex ( and specially those who don’t think about operating systems).

Its philosophy is highly commercial, tightly controlled and not transparent and has preceded and is independent of public opinion or demand for any change in the way it works or sells apps or music or other things. It is a shiny window to apple’s music and application lolly shops. Something you don’t really own. You only touch and look through.

It certainly is a lot of fun to 'own' one though. I love using my brother’s. It does certain things extremely well. No denying.

@Tape5, not everyone needs a tablet that can run Maya, okay? Get over it. And yes, many people are attracted to Apple products for visual appeal. Not everyone wants a desktop computer that looks like it was built by a teenage gamer in his mom's basement, or looks like it was built by an auto tuner with neon lights all over it. Some people just want simple, elegant, efficient, beautifully made products that enjoyable to use. If Apple products aren't for you, then just buy something else. Get on with your life.

And yes, not everyone wants to "think about operating systems" just like not everyone wants to think about the software or electronics governing the car you drive. Some people just want an attractive, well-designed car that they can just get into and drive, without worrying so much about what's under the hood.

You have to be stupid not to see that. Apple has been telling everyone for decades that their products have to elicit emotional response and have to be visually appealing.

> It is predominantly an apple creation with a crippled and closed operating system that is best for types of things teenagers do when they are not thinking about sex ( and specially those who don’t think about operating systems). <

Have you attended the latest wireless healthcare conference? When your diabetes is killing you with crazy blood glucose levels, operating system is the last thing you want to think about.

I guess your logic is that devices should be messy, difficult to use and they have to be ugly.

When teenagers are not thinking about their iPad, they sometimes also think about their cell phones, many of which are Android. The "s-word" may rank third, although automobiles, clothing, hair, dermatology, and the anxieties of impressing peers also rank high. Once they reach adulthood, money becomes the big issue, usually solved by credit cards and permanent debt.

> It is predominantly an apple creation with a crippled and closed operating system that is best for types of things teenagers do when they are not thinking about sex...

OK, I'll bite. Do you even know what teenagers do these days? They are doing amazing things, creating arts, write apps, doing incredible sports, talking to each other thousands of miles away (my son has friends in several continents). Some are trying to change the bigot thinking of the last generation, others creating new democracy.

All this, helped by the modern wonder of mobile devices that have a crippled and closed operating system. Who, other than closed minded geeks, cares?

Tape5: "Ok, I rephrase that. A tablet that can run all the high demand 64b software that is currently running on your PC or Mac."

I see. And Tablet versions or all this "high demand" software is being written as we speak, right? And the magical high powered 64 bit tablet that can run this "high demand" software will run for how long on a full charge?

Ok, I rephrase that. A tablet that can run all the high demand 64b software that is currently running on your PC or Mac. Still doesn't sound funky enough for the people hanging about in an apple store? Hell. I don't know. This world is so strange that honestly it will not surprise me if lollies and jelly will prevail.

@Tape5, not everyone has the same demands and needs for their devices. Higher powered devices use more power and run hotter, while lower powered devices use less power and run cooler. There are always some trade-offs. I'm sure there will be devices that run the most power-intensive software applications. But a lot of other people want devices that are light, efficient, and has battery power that lasts a really, really long time. That's where an iPad comes in.

Not everyone needs a Lamborghini or Humvee to get from point A to B. What you seem to be proposing is that the Lamborghinis or Humvees should prevail. Look around you and you'll see that this simply isn't so.

Sooner or later, one will be able to "run" just about anything on an iPad, but it won't be "on" the iPad's dinky hard memory or be limited to the limited RAM or OS. The iPad will be merely the display portal for software on a remote computer. Although much faster and stonger than a home computer, the rent will be significant, you'll always need Wifi or 4G, and you will be at the mercy of the provider.

As usual apple did a great job in their upgrade. I do not plan to replace by iPad 1 for the newest version. I would rather spend that money on a laptop. In my opinion the iPad can totally replace laptops (and possibly desktops) if voice recognition were the primary input device (with keyboards a rarely needed secondary) and if file sharing were improved.

apple LTE not compatible with LTE in Germany..this is a scandal..how could apple claim that the new Ipad is world tablet if the high speed connection is not compatible with major parts of Europe such Germany and many other countries???

Same for Singapore, but that's because the frequencies used for 4G LTE in the US/iPad are used for other traffic already (including 3G traffic) elsewhere -- that's a matter for the telcos managing the bandwidth to decide, based on market demand for 4G etc. It's still world-ready in terms of 3G.

same in Norway.They don't support the 4G frecuency range in Norway.They have not done their homework regarding 4G.So for many here in Europe, there will be little people buying it for the speed on mobile networks.

Apple have a very good R&D to start with, and i have so much respect for their creative minds.But dealing with updating music, photos & videos its a drag. Where in Androids it will work just by drag and drop from my PC. I do have both tablets, but i still run to my android for fast & efficient results. I will still choose the freedom to do other customization or multitasking and not be able to control by a mere human made software.

Still comes down to the fact that Apple products white version is more expensive than the black one. some kid might get the wrong message. :)

You can use alternative music transfer apps, which make it possible to avoid using iTunes. In my articles, I've discussed a lot. See for example http://www.iphonelife.com/blog/87/media-synchronization-benchmarks-freesync-syncpod-vs-copytrans-manager-vs-itunes-%E2%80%93-which-fas

My 64 GB 4G retina Pad arrives March 16th. Finally a product useful for the traveling photog. I have a Mac Pro station at home and a laptop would be a heavy machine that would just be used for trips. We mainly use an iPad 2 for email, surfing,etc. The new iPad allows one to review photos out in the field, do basic editing on some of your best all for 1.4 pounds. You still cannot use it for backup for someone who shoots thousands of wildlife shots. But that is what inexpensive SD cards in your second memory slot are for.

My response is:1. You're just jealous.2. That's nice. But who cares?!3. OK, everyone has an opinion. Thanks for sharing.4. It makes a huge difference. Those that criticize do so out of envy.5. Not with the over-saturation that it's known for. Images are not all about "deep blacks". There's many more colors besides black.

I perused the misc news category back to January 2011. There are at least 4 iPad related items while there were no tablets by any other manufacturer deemed worthy of mention.

Do you think that's realistic? Don't you think that a tablet (e.g., the Lenovo Thinkpad Tablet) with a pressure sensitive accurate pen would have some relevancy to photographers? Is it possible that those comments have something to do with these omissions?

Well I am not so sure - I for one switched from iPad 2 to Sony's tablet S for few reasons: this tablet has full two-way USB that can read files from my camera and download them in FULL size and not only upto 1600px like iPad2. It also has full SD card that I use so it is rally easy to back up photos to tablet. Also, Google docs work perfectly including offline mode which was pain in the but with iPad. Music and movies - I don;t even wanna go there - I was so happy to get out of the retarded iTunes world.

@t3: "Other tablets are not very widely used ..." Isn't this supposed to be a site that bring attention to new products so photographers can evaluate them? How widely was the Lytro camera used when it was featured? Does it matter that Lenovo positioned the Thinkpad as a business device?@JakeB: Why would I need to justify my purchase as opposed to the iPad? Since none of its models have an accurate digitizer and pressure sensitive pen, my choice was always limited to Android. When I bought my tablet the choice was quite small, it was the Thinkpad or the Flyer. Today I could be waiting for the Samsung Note 10.1 or the Asus PadFone. Have any of these been featured here? Do photographers who come to this site only even know that they have these choices?

Read the first sentence again on the "About us" page. Is this site fulfiling that dedication when it somewhat consistently ignores a tablet segment that now has over 40% market share?

@kovesp, the way I see it, if it's a camera or a photo printer or something very directly related to photography, it gets automatic coverage here on DPReview. But if it's something a bit outside that range, like a tablet or a laptop, then there's a different criteria or threshold that needs to be met. In the case of the iPad, first of all it's a device that is already very widely used by photographers (which is probably the most important factor), secondly it has the high resolution display that so many photographers have been waiting for, thirdly it has a five-element f/2.4 lens in its camera, and fourthly it's the tablet that has the most photo related apps for it.

Obviously, DPReview can't feature every new tablet or notebook computer that is introduced, otherwise it ends up being a computer review site. So they have to be selective. I think that's pretty reasonable. If there is another tablet that becomes widely used in the photo world, it too will probably be covered.

@T3: The first part of your argument I would call superfluous as I have no issue with there being a report on the new iPad ... the new screen resolution justifies that. What I take issue with is that tablets with capabilities that are unique AND useful to photographers AND not being provided by Apple are not featured. Examples:* accurate digitizers and pressure sensitive pens, this works very nicely with Photoshop Touch (including the pressure sensitivity)* SD card slots* USB host capabilities, e.g.,* I can plug a 500 GiB drive into my tablet,* I can also plug in my D300s and selectively transfer or view the images directly from the camera, very useful it is too.

And again, I disagree with the "widely used" argument. My understanding of the mission of this site is not (just) to rehash old ideas (the widely used stuff), rather to expose new features and ideas so readers can choose the gear that has the optimal combination of features for THEIR purposes.

@kovesp- Like I said, the site has to be selective, otherwise it would be a computer, tablet, notebook site. Heck, DPreview is even selective in its coverage of cameras. For example, they don't do much coverage of medium format cameras and medium format backs. They just can't cover *everything*. That's unrealistic. So they try to cover the things that a good chunk of their readers might be interested in. In terms of tablet coverage...well, the iPad is easily the most popular tablet device, so that's why it makes it to the front page. I don't think that's unreasonable.

@t3:I guess we disagree, and we'll leave it at that. If the last paragraph in my previous post doesn't mean anything to you, then there is nothing more to say. I interpret that stance as saying---very pointedly paraphrased---: I don't want to see new stuff, as long as the iPad is the most popular I only want posts about it, regardless of features present in other gear that the iPad does not have.

BTW, I somehow omitted in all these posts, that I agree with the OP on general principles. His cited items 1-2 are infantile, but his responses are no different. Item 3 ... Apple and its products do not suck, though I deplore some of Apple's business practices. The high resolution display is great (though it isn't a retina display by Apple's own definition), it'll take at least a few months before they appear on other tablets. I hope the hi-res screen will spur a move to real typography in digital books (300 dpi is about the lower limit for that, 1200 is what is really needed).

The makers of Android tabs have been tardy to launch their 2012 models. Of the devices shown at CES, only the Asus is available for sale. If anything, disapproval should accrue to them. But both Apple and Android tabs seem to be competing in features as dubious as more pixels on cameras.

The display on the 2012 Samsung Android is also alleged to have resolution over 1920x1080. I'd pose the same question about the Retina: if the eye cannot perceive the difference on a small screen, why does the "enhancement" matter? Is there a way to prove this, other than by intimidating the little guy who can't see the emperor's new clothes?

@John Koch: The higher resolution may not matter to photographers (I am not a good enough one to be able to answer that question) but it sure matters for text. You cannot expect support for real typography until you hit 1200 dpi. Top notch printing uses 4800 dpi with 1200 considered the bare minimum. Any commercially printed book you buy has at the least the latter.

I had use the Transformer Prime the quad core one, the gaming and the speed does not impress, felt more lag than the ipad 2. Gaming graphic ain't as good as Ipad2. Ipad 3 is the new standard what tablet should be, true that it lack card reader or hdmi, but both can be trade off with a adapter or file transfer via bluetooth.

Another thing lack of android tablet apps, quality of android apps overall is poor. Apple play this game early, android still catch it up.

This is a winning situation for everyone involved and even those not involved...

The greatest winners are those who bought not Apple products necessarily, but Apple stock. The current price compared to the price before iPhone launch should bring a smile to anyone's face.

Those that don't buy Apple because the i-device lacks an ostensibly critical feature or suffers from a proprietary connector (when in fact these devices are the standards for significant markets in the developed world...) also win, because they won't have to worry about availability of their chosen non-Apple device: it should be ready and waiting for their $.

I doubt, meanwhile, that Apple will be able to produce enough of these to meet demand in the near future and perhaps beyond. In fact, it's almost fortunate that the iPad lacks the oh-so-crucial "standard" connector, SD card slot, bluetooth file sharing, fill-in-the-blank; if it were equipped with these must-have features supply would never meet demand... Heh.

Good point. Apple was never the first to make a type of product, they simply made them popular for regular people. Computers, digital music players, smartphones, and tablets were items that existed, but Apple made appealing to those who didn't need them. They are never 'revolutionary' or 'magical' like they claim, but they are the easiest for a non-tech person to adapt to.

Nonsense. I don't have a single Apple Product, but I am well aware having tried some, that Apple understands that ergonomics is more than 50% of the success of such products. Other companies claim to make things easy to use, but fail to do so. Worse yet, they don't really pay attention and still don't get it at all. While Apple may not have been the absolute first with many products, their refinement and improvement of many tech products has led to amazing market changes and, in my opinion, deservedly so. Yes, there are things I wish their products had which would make them even more easy and useful, but that s irrelevant. I certainly don't buy into the Apple and Steve Jobs worship bit, because Apple is just like other Corps - just look at the terrible work conditions at Foxconn. Try to leave your most obvious biases at home and attempt to be more neutral.

@Dan Tong, I'm failing to see where we disagree. We landed on the same note: Apple didn't invent the product, they made them easy, simple, ergonomic. They've driven market changes not by introducing a new device, but by taking existing technology and showing our parents that it is in fact usable and understandable.

Also, big agreement on Apple not being a high and mighty company. Apple being successful doesn't make them holy, it just shows that consumers like their products.

I own mostly Apple products. People are going to jump at that and call me a fanboy. Every time I need a new laptop or phone, or want a new tablet, I look at every device I can get my hands on. I don't look at specs. I pick up the device and do the things I normally do. I look at the durability and practicality. Each time so far, Apple has the best experience.

Yes, far too many people buy Apple because it has the logo, but far too many people refuse to consider it for the same reason. Buy what you like.

It's still far from 'retina' (326dpi) but much improved display. I hoped for AMOLED w/ deeper black than the typical milky-gray IPS... Not convinced yet that i ever need an iPad, though one could use it for photos - as an expensive digital frame :-).

My main interest for such toys would be in maps/GPS and PDF papers/magazines... basically a hi-res reader. Again, i'd rather save my eyes w/ e-ink or a friendlier display (not backlit). Mitch

"Retina" is not 326dpi. It's a term, coined by Apple, defined by Apple, and according to their formula, the dpi varies depending on the typical viewing distance from user to screen. According to that formula, the iPad qualifies as "retina" at 264dpi.

Retina is not a fixed number. It's a formula that compares DPI to standard viewing distance to determine if the normal human eye can distinguish individual pixels.

Definitely agree on the different screen technology. They should either bump up to better backlit technology or someday bring eink to the level of a color magazine. I read on my kindle to give my eyes a break.

Robogobo is right, Apple made the term. While scientists agree with the formula and they are accurate in their claims, it is still a standard created by Apple. I think it's a fair standard.

There's a joke about how to make any cell phone a 'retina' display. 1. Hold phone at a comfortable distance 2*. Begin moving phone away from your face until you can no longer see individual pixels. *extension pole may be required for step 2 **use caution with Nokia phones

Seriously though, take a tablet without that DPI and bring it to the Apple store and set it next to the new iPad, bring up the same website, and hold it 15" from your face. It may not be a 'huge deal,' but you'll see why it's nice.

A lot of you Apple haters need to step away from your ignorant perspectives and look at the facts.

Yes, other tablets have the same features, even more (SD, USB, etc). One thing that you cannot argue though: Apple is by far the most successful tablet maker. I know you're cringing, but this is strictly numbers.

Listen to their commercials. They are telling you why it doesn't have a USB port or SD slot. They are making a device for content consumption, not creation. This isn't brainwashing, it's simply them making a product for one purpose. That purpose isn't yours? Stick with your laptop or "niche" device.

They're adding features that improve upon their intent of the product. Everyone is using the screen, they improve that. Everyone is holding it, they make it light and thin.

Until you can argue that the majority of the consumer base would use the following features on a regular basis, then we'll talk: USB, SD slot, removable battery, apps not available in app store, etc.

Subjective twaddle.It hasn't got a feature because a majority wouldn't use it ???Add a usb port and the majority wouldn't use it ???An SD port to increase memory an the majority wouldn't use it ???Go stick your head back into the Apple bubble.

You see, & I don't mean to be ugly, but frankly, that the product doesn't have an SD card slot or USB because "people don't care?" It's because such people are ignorant. Products shouldn't be designed in an inferior way just because people are too ignorant to know better. People who KNOW what an SD card slot & USB port would do for them shouldn't be penalized because other people are ignorant.

Me: I know better, & I want a product I can CREATE on, not just consume. That's why I don't have a tablet, you can't type worth spit on a screen vs physical keys. (But that applies to ALL tablets, I know.) Aside from that, the lack of an SD card slot is just ridiculous, I don't care if 3 million people say it doesn't matter and only 30 people say it does, the 30 are right & the 3 million are just wrong.

@Le Kilt, I believe yes to all questions. I work in higher education. I talk to these people all the time. Photography majors, business majors, music majors, professors in each field, and never have I heard anyone say they wish it had USB or SD, and the conversation does come up since tablets in education is a huge topic. Also, what the hell are people wanting to connect to USB that can't be done wireless? No one is able to answer that question.

@larrytusaz, Apple makes a product that you describe... It's called a laptop. Look it up. It's made for content creation. Also, ignorance would describe the 30 people that feel they should be catered over the 3 million, not the other way around.

It is not that "people don't care" about having an SD card slot, as some would contend. Nor is it that Apple doesn't care either. Apple does care. It cares about it's bottom line. By putting an SD card slot internal to the iPad, Apple could not charge $29 for their Camera Connection Kit. Apple has long nickeled-and-dimed their customers (myself included) for little-yet-important things like this. They get away with that by drawing the customer's attention away from the loss of certain "built-in" features by using "great and stunning design." And if AAPL stock serves as any indication, that strategy has worked and continues to work.

I say all of this not "liking" the present situation. I'd prefer to have an internal SD card slot. I'm just citing reasons why it doesn't have that. But that's not to say it will never have it. They'll obviously run out of "new feature" additions someday and be forced to add it. (That in combination with us beating them about it.)

Apple's solution is to wean people from "hard" peripherals and sell them iCloud substitutes. This business could eventually dwarf the hardware side of the business altogether. Tablets will be only display devices or portals for tools or content controled by omnipotent Apple.

It's fun to see Apple haters contradict each other. Yes, it's a gain in revenue. Not because they charge for an adaptor, you can get a 3rd party adapter for less than $5. It's a gain because for every port they add, it gets more complicated and less appealing for the target audience. This is like complaining that pick-up truck manufacturers don't have an SD port. Turns out, that's not the purpose and photographers aren't the target audience of pick-up trucks.

Makers of "competing" Android tablets have been so slow to roll out Tegra 3 models with ICS. So far, only Asus is selling a Tegra 3 tablet, but with the older Honeycomb OS, and somer report glitches when installing ICS. Samsung, Acer, and others were to offer their quad core answers to the iPad3, but are reluctant to confirm release dates. Could it be that some are hedging, worried that they should wait for the Jelly Bean OS, or allow the 2012 tablets to support Windows 8 too?

Meanwhile, Apple steals the show, but its devotees must pay plenty to get the 64gb or 128gb versions with all the fixings.

My guess is that the advantages of the new processor will be noticed by gamers, but not other users. A four-core processor might aid video editing, but the limited RAM and memory limit any tablet's utility for that purpose. If there is a "cloud" solution, where the processing and memory are virtual, and the tablet is only a display, a 2011 two-core device might work every bit as well.

It will be interesting to test whether an uninformed and un-tipped observer will perceive any difference of the added pixels on a 9" or 10" screen. Maybe young eyes will be able to read tinier micro text, but prefer conventional font size anyway.

Samsung is supposedly toying with super high resolution screens, but the same questions apply.

Meanwhile, if photographers crave narrow DOF, defocus, and peripheral blur, should resolution higher than 1280x800 serve any purpose at all on a small screen?

1) Comparing my iPod Touch 3rd Gen to my iPhone 4, there is no argument: the latter screen is "seamless" and gorgeous, making the previously delectable IP3G screen look coarse and grainy

2) Ask Barney Britton why you need at least a 9Mp image to print an A4 photo - and he'll wheel out the arbitrary standard response that you need 300dpi to get a "photographic" print.

Bottom line, iPad/iPad 2 have amazing sceen when seen from a couple of feet away, but real close up, on your lap, you are still aware of pixels - unlike on the iPhone 4, where images are just "real". I can't wait to see a New iPad!

I own iPad 2. My main application is e-magazines reading. I like traveling. then I bought apple card adapter and found that the screen is naive for viewing photos, in term of both resolution and saturation. I kept the adapter and hope that one day I will have chance to use it. This is the day.

But probably I'll get one - I skipped iPad 2, and still love my original iPad, but I think the faster graphics, serious screen resolution, and the cameras and related features, make the New iPad very tempting.

Nice display, but I will not be interested in Apple products until they do not implement SD card slots and standard interfaces. Proprietary interface is a dinosaur without user benefit, it is just a money maker for Apple and I am not interested in their products until they open up.

This is ludicrous and retarded at best! I dont know why SD cards matter so much to you? If they do implement SD card then you ll retort to ask for bluetooth file sharing? What if it had SD card slot and nothing else? It is just a medium of storing things, so get over yourself please! What matters is what it has not how it has! And to disregard its interface speaks volumes of your taste and ignorance!

I think an external SD card interface is important. It makes it so much easier to share files or pictures with other people who don't have an Apple. It would also be nice if Apple would use mini or micro USB connections instead of their proprietary connectors.

Amazon has scores of $5 SD card readers for iPads. If you're prime, you can ship them for free. If you're worried about cheap knock off products, you can drop a few more bucks and buy Apple's version. Personally, I bought a knock off SD card one, and a knock off CF card one. CF works a bit better for my SLRs, honestly.

I agree that this is what is keeping most non apple tech users away. I have never bought an apple Iphone nor an ipad, but i am interested in the this ipad because of its screen. I want standard interfaces where possible, no special power adapters, headphone jacks... and i wish it had a HDMI input so i could tether it directly to my DSLR. But this is wishful thinking. I may very well wait and see what the other vendors will offer in 2012 and stay away from apple yet again.

Can't believe all the 'likes' for this ridiculous post! The iPad DOES take SD (and USB) with a little adapter. 'Without user benefit'? It connects your SD card to the iPad!

This is a super-lame, super-trivial excuse. I could understand if they were saying 'sounds too slow' to me,' or 'display not good enough'(!), or 'too expensive' or 'can't expand RAM' or even 'just a toy'. But the fact you need an adapter for an SD card is a deal breaker???

'I agree! And Sam147 is a troll for saying otherwise' pretty much sums up the mentality here.

It should stick firmly together when we need and display should be adjustable to the axis of the lens ...

But when will be tablet which can load Pentax K-01 and tablet will be connecting via HDMI for its high resolution display and data transfer for remote controll via touch screen and for data storage ... I woud be satisfied :)

I wonder if this new Ipad wil finally be able to display my photos in full resolution. So far all my images are automatically scaled down to 2-3mp without the ability to zoom in to 100%. The only app that really allowed 100% view was iFile, but it was very slow and is only available if you have a jailbreak!

The new iPhoto handles up to 19MP and Nik's Snapseed handles up to 16MP. I am not sure why the article suggests that Photoshop Touch is ahead of iPhoto, since for one thing that has a size limit of 1600x1600.

Amazing! Retina Display and 4G were what I said I was waiting for, and whadya know, they listened! 5MP stills and 1080p video are icing. I think this will be the tipping point for lots of other holdouts. The Apple online store was throttling traffic and hard to get into.

Viewing distance is a bit different between a small cell phone screen and a 10" tablet screen, dontcha think? Not to mention that images displayed on an iPad screen are MUCH larger than what you can display on a cell phone screen. So the difference in ppi that you're bragging about is rather meaningless and pointless. Besides, I don't think anyone needs to "beat" the resolution of the latest iPad. At a certain point, enough is enough, and anything beyond that is just numbers for numbers sake. No one is looking at these screens with a loupe!

I know I've been slashing away at Apple here. But as far as 'enough is enough', that only seems to be true with camera sensor pixel density. The screen on my cell is super sharp! Granted it's not as big for aspect ratio, but the physical size is smaller and it's native resolution is 1280x720 in a 4.5" space. Wanna talk about crisp and sharp images and video!! With less ppi on the cell, the screen would have to be much larger to get the same 1280x720 resolution. Makes it hard to fit in the pocket ;-) BTW, in case you were wondering, I have the LG Optimus 4G LTE. That's the Canadian version. In the US it's called the LG Nitro. All I'm saying is with larger pixels and/or more space between them, the image suffers. Simply put, my phone does a much better job!

Well, then enjoy your phone screen. I guess the rest of us will just have to *make do* with the iPad's *lousy* 2048x1536 display. But something tells me that most people are going to enjoy watching hi def movies on an iPad's 9.7" screen much better than they would on your cell phone.

I agree. at some point enough is enough. more pixel density would have meant higher price, less battery life and so on. from the normal distance you use the ipad I think they made this so that every step forward will be pointless. like they did on the iphone.

Well what should we say about laptop monitors? OMG! They don't have nearly as much ppi as last smartphone! Should we dump them?

Seriously, Base(megapixel)man, there's something more on a screen than its ppi.

I'm sure your camera screen must be wonderful for 40 and overs! Even on my Dino of an iPad 2 multiple people can view movies and pics at a greater distance. Wow...a 4.5 inch screen!! How often do you zoom in to read on that?? I never do. The iPad 3 screen will only be that much more beautiful! Love it now, but will only be better!

Your HDTV is retina too if it has over 260ppi Is it marketing? Surely a display is 'retina' because the eye cannot perceive any difference if you go higher. In other words this is similar resolution to a photographic print or a magazine.If the display has such a high pixel density that increasing it you can't tell the difference surely that is good enough?I think there are more than a few silly answers here based more on hatred of Apple/I bought a different device than an actual understanding of what retinal means.

Harry, the only way your 1080p set is "Retina" is if you own an extremely small TV set. PPI stands for pixels per inch. Since there are fewer pixels in 1080p than the iPad display, it'd have to be quite a bit smaller than an iPad to be Retina.

Can I arrange my photos in the Photos application yet? Seriously unbelievable that after 2 years I still can't choose how to arrange my photos so I can easily use it as a portfolio. The fact that I have to manipulate meta data to do it is unbelievable.

What would the point be on such a screen? 4k is destinated to large panels. that way you can have crispy sharp images even on those. On a 10" screen, I think 4k would be a little visual improvement. Very little.

Only reason Apple is doing so good is cause of it's marketing and ability to make you the consumer 'think' it's better than everything else. Funny there's still no memory card slot. Hmmmm.....better than the rest, I think not! It's only Apple's followers who will fight tooth and nail to proclaim it's the best. Still waiting for that memory card expansion. Oh wait, you'll never see it cause Apple can make you pay a lot more to get only a little. I like the ability to swap memory cards. Fill one, switch it for another. Need to transfer data across any platform, no problem with a memory card. But ooops, sorry Apple people, I'm talking another language to you. Just remember, Apple only wants your money by making you think you can't live without their product. Time to WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!!!!

Time for you to wake up and do a little research before going on a rant. There are all sorts of 3rd part drives and adapters available for the ipad. Google "hyperdrive ipad", or "iflashdrive" to start.

In the end, most people don't use these because they are syncing their device to their main computer.

People tend to forget that there's more to a device than a memory card slot. Look at netbooks: they all have memory card slots, but netbook sales are in the toilet. People like the iPad because of the overall package: OS, hardware quality, apps support, brick-and-mortar store support, ecosystem, overall integration across products, consistency, user friendliness, etc. But if a memory card is really, really, really important to you, then definitely buy a different device. But don't just assume that iPad buyers are a bunch of mindless, blind fools. A lot of us are Windows and Android users, too.

You see, Baseman, that is where Apple and you differ: Apple has been looking into the future for years and been mostly right, while people like you have always complained about the oldfashioned legacy technology that their products lacked. Oh how I remember the uproar in the PC community when Apple dropped the Floppy drive. Guess what, so did everyone else a few years later. Same thing is happening right now with optical drives. And with the cloud becoming more important every day, swapping SD cards from one device to another is very soon going to be a thing of the past too. You may dislike Apple all you want, once you start claiming you have a better vision of the future then them, you ridicule yourself.

there is a place for SD cards/slots, especially for photog's out in the field, away from a wifi source. SD slots do not have a future for people that never leave the sofa, hotel foya, or McDonalds. For me personally, ipad is crippled without an SD slot.

I bought the first Ipad for use in downloading my photos in the field. Although this was a great way to have a backup and to view the photos I soon discovered that the ability to do critical analysis or any kind of editing was limited by the overall 3meg resolution in all of the apps. The 2nd generation was better but not really there.

However, the world has just changed. The newest Ipad will revolutionize the ability to view and edit in the field. I have so been looking forward to such a device and now it is here.

Those of you who belittle Apple will be laughed at as this device gets into the hands of the professionals.

Just buy their stock. I did awhile back when others said no. Who is laughing all the way to the bank now?

Cool..., now I can waste more of my money on an over priced under spec'd slave labour device and all the accessories to make use of it properly. I'll make sure I bag my spot in the queue. Be first to get it, then a month later Apple comes out with a slightly improved version, or one that doesn't have overheating issues, or bugs, or what ever that usually has wrong with Apple products when they first push them out to the eager awaiting minions.

What in the world are you ranting about? The iPad 2 was introduced a year ago, not a month ago. And no one is forcing you to buy anything. Besides, if you're nervous about buying the new iPad, you can buy the iPad 2 for $100 less.

Actually, I think that's the *real* big news from today's announcement. Other tablet manufacturers are already struggling to make any money selling their tablets for less than $500, now they have to deal with the iPad 2 selling for $399. On top of that, the other manufacturers have their sales spread across multiple tablet models, further diminishing the profitability of each model they market. I think the tough tablet market just got a lot tougher for the other tablet manufacturers. I think a lot of people who might have been searching for an under-$400 tablet are finally just going to get an iPad 2, rather than buying an iPad clone for about the same price.